All 12 jury: Alexander Diaz not guilty of murder

Dominican citizen Alexander Diaz, charged with murdering fellow countryman Pabel Santana back in 2014, was found not guilty of all charges after a 10 day trial at the High Court in Charlestown.

A 12 member jury of four women and eight men found Diaz unanimously not guilty of murder and 11-1 not guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter Thursday.

Diaz was accused of murdering one of his countrymen Santana December 21, 2014 at Enriques Bar in Charlestown.

The trial began Tuesday (April 17) and was being prosecuted by the Director of Public Prosecution Valston Graham alongside Tristan Vasquez. Diaz was represented by defence attorney Chesley Hamilton. On Tuesday Diaz pleaded not guilty to murder and the lesser charge of manslaughter.

The DPP brought forward two eye witnesses, two doctors, Forensic Pathologist Dr. Valery Alexandrov and Dr Robert George and three police officers, and a IT technician and CCTV video footage of the night Santana was stabbed.

The defence brought forward no witnesses. On Wednesday both sides gave its closing arguments.

On Thursday ( April 26) Her Ladyship Justice Victoria Charles-Clarke gave her summation of the trial and the jury deliberated. After three hours the jury returned a unanimous not guilty on the murder charge but was hung 6-6 on the charge of manslaughter. They were sent back to deliberate and returned with an 11-1 not guilty verdict on the charge of manslaughter.

Shouts of joy from Diaz family rang out in the court room as his aunt wept tears of joy. Justice Charles-Clarke turned to Diaz and said you are now free to go.

The Observer spoke with Diaz after the trial who said that after four years in Her Majestys Prison in St. Kitts he is thankful and happy that he is now a free man.

I can say, God is good. He is the one that made this happen for me, Diaz said.

The only unanswered question is why it took so long for Diaz to have his trial, having to spend four years in prison.